Suspended sentence for Norton man with knife and knuckle duster

Magistrates spared Warburton from jail. Chairman of the bench Susanne Maddison said: “Posession of a knife is very serious and must end up with a custodial sentence, especially when coupled with a knuckle duster, however we are going to suspend this for 12 months during which you will complete 15 rehabilitation days. “You will receive 16 weeks for the lock knife and four weeks concurrent for the knuckle duster.”Warburton will pay £185 court costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

16:28

This is what probation want to do with the defendant

The probation service spoke to Warburton earlier today and recommends he is given a community order with 15 days rehabilitation.

16:28

Defendant kept knuckle duster for use in an art installation

Tony Cooke, representing Warburton, told the court the defendant wanted to use the knuckle duster as part of an art installation. He said: “This offence, when I first looked at it, was serious but I don’t think the guidelines would be just. It is not intended to put people in prison for a mistake.“At times he keeps himself busy as a handyman and on the evening he was caught he was taking a gentleman to his security work. “Police officers said they spoke to everyone and the knife wasn’t hidden or brandished. “In terms of the knuckle duster he said he found it and didn’t look at it as a weapon but as an object he could make into an art piece.”

16:25

Defendant kept knuckle duster in his man-bag as a 'souvenir'

Kieran Warburton appears in court for possessing a lock knife in a public place and possessing an offensive weapon - a knuckle duster. Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: “On June 30 in the early hours at 12.30am police were undercover and saw the defendant and another man in a car. “Police officers stopped and searched the defendant who had a knuckle duster in his man bag. He also had a lock knife strapped to the front of his tracksuit bottoms. “He said he found the knuckle duster in Leek three days ago and kept is as a souvenier in his man bag. “He told officers he has the knife clipped onto his trousers because he is a handyman but said it should have been in his toolbox.”

15:25

Warrant issued for Hanley man

Craig Trow, of Wellington Street, Hanley, was due to appear in court for obstructing a constable from executing their duty. The 28-year-old did not appear in court so a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

15:22

Defendant jailed for five months

Magistrates took on board what the defence said. Chairman of the bench Susanne Maddison said: “We have heard what has been said and feel the only sentence is custodial. The reason being that you took a vehicle in 2015 meaning this is the second time. “You have also shown an unwillingness to comply with a community penalty. There will be four months in custody for taking the vehicle, one month concurrent for excess alcohol, and a month consecutively for making off without payment. “You are disqualified for 24 months upon release. You will pay £600 compensation for the car and £63.14 to Esso.”But from the dock the defendant shouted: “She won’t be having nothing, they won’t be having nothing.”The defendant was ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge. There was no separate penalty for driving without insurance.

15:20

Defendant asks magistrates to lock him up

Simon Dykes, on behalf of Pettifer, told the court the defendant would prefer to be jailed. He said: “He made early pleas and full and frank admissions to the police officers. It’s fair to say drink had a part to play and he can only describe his actions as stupid. “He says he took the car when he was at a friend’s house. He’s 21, lives at home, and his parents support him. “He does not feel he would comply with a community sentence. In his own words he said ‘there is no point making a community order if I’m going to breach it in a few weeks’.”

15:16

Police called to crash found drink-driver

The court heard Pettifer was drinking at a friend’s house when he took her car while she was in the shower. Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: “On July 2 the injured party was at her Cresswell Avenue home with the defendant and went for a shower. When she came downstairs the friends had left and taken her car. “She called the police and shortly after the defendant contacted her and admitted taking it. “In the early hours at Esso in Chesterton the car was caught on CCTV. There was £63.14 worth taken and no payment taken. “Then, just before 3am Crewe Police went to Stapeley because they received reports of a road traffic collision. They found damage to a wall. “Officers locates the car half a mile away and the defendant in the driver’s seat. He provided a positive breath test.”

15:06

Newcastle man admits catalogue of motoring offences

Jake Pettifer, of Birch House Road, Newcastle, has admitted aggravated vehicle taking on July 2. He took a Ford Focus and caused less than £5,000 damage. He also admitted drink-driving having blown 92 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - compared to the legal limit of 35. He also drove off from a petrol station without paying for fuel and drove without insurance.

15:02

Meir man was acting as a drugs courier

Simon Dykes, mitigating, told the court Gilchrist says he thought monkey dust was still a ‘legal high’.He said: “He is not a dealer and has not been involved in the supply. He thought it was a legal high and may be a little naive. This is an isolated incident where he was, for a short time, acting as a courier.”The court heard Gilchrist received a 12-month community order for a racially aggravated public order offence on Friday.

15:00

Defendant told girlfriend: 'I'm ****** now'

The court heard Gilchrist said ‘I’m ****** now’ when his partner’s car was pulled over in Meir on March 23. Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: “Police stopped the car and the defendant became twitchy. A search was carried out and in the leg of his trousers was a tub of monkey dust. He said he was a cannabis user and did not know what was in the tub.”The court heard the drugs were estimated to be worth between £360 and £610. The prosecutor added: “He accepts possession and says he didn’t know what was in the package. He wasn’t a street dealer but a courier.”

14:57

Monkey dust dealer admits offence

Cory Gilchrist, aged 25, of Brookwood Drive, Meir, has admitted possessing monkey dust with intent to supply in Meir on March 23.

14:15

Norman man, 28, admits having knife

Kieran Warburton, aged 28, of Barks Drive, Norton, appears in court charged with possessing a bladed article in a public place. He admits having a lock knife in Smallthorne on June 30.

Tony Cooke, representing Warburton, has requested a pre-sentence report from the probation service. The defendant will be back in court later this afternoon after being interviewed by a probation officer.

13:33

Grieving family still waiting for answers after police name man killed in Stoke-on-Trent fire

Medics are still waiting to find out what killed man in Shelton fire. More here.

Man charged with assaulting police officer

Warrant issued for arrest of Tunstall man

Patrick Gilby, of Scotia Road, Tunstall, was charged with theft by finding on February 2. The 38-year-old did not attend court and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

13:13

Warrant issued for arrest of Bradwell teenager

Brandon Ruscoe, of Oldcastle Avenue, Bradwell, was due to appear in court charged with two thefts. The 18-year-old did not attend and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

12:56

Newcastle woman, 22, fails to attend court

Paige Brett, aged 22, of Bowker Court, Newcastle, was due to appear in court accused of criminal damage and common assault. Brett failed to appear at North Stafford Justice Centre and a warrant has been issued for her arrest.

12:52

Warrant issued after man accused of stealing handbag from car in Blurton

Shaun Williams, aged 39, of Meaford Drive, Blurton, was due to appear in court accused of stealing a handbag from a car in Blurton on June 23. Williams failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

12:50

Drink-driver was attending a leaving party

The court heard Kotagiri was stopped by police in the early hours of the morning. Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: “This is an early guilty plea and at 1.25am he was stopped by police officers on Etruria Road. It was clear he had been drinking. He has no previous convictions.”

Defending Kotagiri, Mark Bromley told the court he was at a going-away party in The Westlands. He said: “His friend was leaving the country so it was a leaving party. “And for years the defendant has suffered a medical problem meaning he rarely drinks. He had two or three drinks. “Someone need to go to a shop to get medication and he thought he was under the limit. “He complied fully with officers.”

12:48

Drink-driver caught in Hanley

Nagaraju Kotagiri, aged 40, appeared in court accused of drink-driving on July 1. Kotagiri, of Langley near Slough, was driving along Etruria Road in Hanley when he blew 42 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35. He pleaded guilty to the offence.

12:34

Defendant says sorry after pub fight

After the sentencing Ward said: “I will have to stay out of trouble now for 12 months and I apologise.”

12:34

Magistrate tells defendant: 'You haven't offended for 14 years - and that's unusual in this court'

Magistrates praised Ward for keeping out of the justice system for more than 14 years. Chairman of the bench Susanne Maddison said: “We have taken on board what has been said and can see you strike him and assault him with a bar stool. “It was ineffective and we take what you have said and it ought to be noted that you have not offended since 2004, which is unusual in this court. “We’re going to impose a 12-month conditional discharge. You will pay £135 costs, £100 compensation, and a £20 victim surcharge.”

12:33

Victim says he lost a tooth in pub fight

Hayley Keegan, mitigating, told magistrates that Ward objected to something said by one of Mr Frost’s party. She said: “While Ward and Mr Frost have had no issues there is animosity among the families and in their community. Ward was in the pub that day because his son was getting married. “He was aware of the Frost name and comments were made from that group that touched on the underlying difficulties. The security footage shows people jibbing in. “Ward assaults him and it wasn’t a hard blow. He then hits him with a stool in the stomach area. “The victim says he lost a tooth but you can’t see signs of injury. He did not seek medical advice.”

12:31

Drinker was on stag-do when he punched man in Tunstall pub

The court heard there had been some animosity between families when the defendant approached his victim. Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: “In the early evening on April 6 at a pub in Tunstall, the injured party was with friends and sat on a bar stool until he was punched. “Frost said he was in the pub when the defendant came in with his son. He said there had been issues between the two families although they did not know each other. “At 8pm Ward came over and asked if the injured party was a Frost. They chatted for a bit. Ward then punches him off the stool.”The court heard Mr Frost had been in the pub since the early afternoon and consumed eight pints of lager. The prosecutor added: “The defendant said he was on a stag do. He had drunk between 15 and 20 Bacardi and cokes and more in the pub. He accepts punching the defendant and hitting him with the bar stool.”

12:27

Fegg Hayes man admits pub assault

Thomas Ward, of Bowman Grove, Fegg Hayes, has admitted a charge of assault by beating. The 56-year-old assaulted John Frost in a pub on April 6.

12:25

Defendant is NOT banned from seeing his parents

Magistrates handed Boulton a 12-month conditional discharge. Chairman of the bench Susanne Maddison said: “We have taken on board what has been said and feel the appropriate punishment is a conditional discharge for 12 months. “We feel a restraining order is not proportional. You will pay £135 costs, £115 compensation, and a £20 victim surcharge.”

12:24

Defendant was having problems with his neighbours

In mitigation, Hayley Keegan told the court Boulton had no previous convictions against his parents. She said: “He indicates he had problems with his neighbours and he says he went to his parents for help. His relationship with them is difficult. He said he wanted to use their phone to call the police because he says when he gives his address he is not taken seriously. “It is not appropriate for a restraining order.”

12:03

Defendant smashed two ornaments in his parents' Stoke garden

The court heard Boulton turned up at his parents’ house on June 30 but became agitated. Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: “The injured party lives in Stoke and the defendant went to the house after texting his mother. “His parents came home and found him in their garden. He smashed two ornaments and then moved to the back, before picking up a pot and throwing it to the floor. “His mother called the police and he was arrested.”His parents applied to the court for a restraining order to prevent him visiting the address.

11:55

Bentilee man damaged ornaments and a plant pot

David Boulton, aged 42, of Trimley Way, Bentilee, has admitted a criminal damage charge. He damaged ornaments and a plant pot worth £115 belonging to Keith Boulton on June 30.